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Jermaine Paul Emerges as the Front Man

Jermaine Paul strolls into his hometown church in Harriman, N.Y., wearing jeans, sneakers and an orange V-neck sweater—and admits he’s the classic middle child still vying for the spotlight. Born July 26, 1978, he is the fifth of 10 children to parents who worked hard to move their family from a tough area in Spring Valley, N.Y., to a more family-friendly neighborhood in Harriman. While in Spring Valley, his dad, a preacher, made sure the kids stayed out of trouble and away from drugs by turning their living room into a musical performance area. It was loaded with instruments—piano, drums and guitars—and some of the kids, including Jermaine, formed a group to perform gospel songs in local churches.